The day temperature in Rajkot where the Delhi Daredevils are slated to play their away - game against Gujarat Lions on Tuesday - touches 40 degrees. It is a massive change for English wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings, where back home in Kent, cricket matches are being disrupted due to snowfall. Billings has arrived in India to particularly experience this extremely different culture and environment. He is here with a well chalked out plan. A keen observer of the game, Billings wants to return as a better player of spin bowling. He struck a half-century off just 34 balls in his maiden IPL appearance as the Daredevils beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs. Forty of his runs were scored from 23 balls bowled by the slower bowlers. If the first game is any indication, then he is on the right track. “I enjoy the challenge of facing spin. It is an art that you need to master. It is like the seaming ball in England. Watching different players play spin really helps. You watch AB de Villiers and Kohli, they are the two people I look up to. They both use their feet incredibly well and put the bowler under pressure. So you watch and learn. “We have three players every day that go out and practice against spin. We have net bowlers and some of our spinners come and bowl. And because there’s only three of you, you have as much time as you need and want essentially. So it’s brilliant.” Billings said he enjoyed every moment of the time spent in the middle in his first game. “It was always a dream growing up to play in the IPL. There is a massive focus on the IPL in England and it is probably the leading global T20 franchise competition. It is a pleasure to be here. Obviously, I got an opportunity and the team won, but just to get an opportunity was fantastic.” With England’s noticeable turnaround in the shorter format, the impetus has only got bigger. “We’re massively encouraged to come to IPL. You’re seeing the transformation within the England team. England made it to the ICC WT20 final. If someone had said that a year ago, you would probably laugh it off. Getting the experience of playing in other places around the world, and to play with the best players is only going to improve you and ultimately the team and the nation as whole. The 24-year-old added that he is having discussions about his game with mentor Rahul Dravid on a regular basis. “A lot of times English players have been said to play spin poorly. For me, a massive part is to improve my game against spin. Working with Rahul Dravid, one of the best players ever to play the game; you pick his brains. You learn from him on a day-to-day basis. “He is just a great human being. I feel him and Paddy have created an environment where – obviously we have got a lot of young, pretty inexperienced players as well – they are made to feel as if they can just go out and express themselves. He made it clear that he wanted to use the IPL experience to enhance his game. “I’ve come into this IPL with a very open mind. I might not play a game, but out of the six-eight weeks that I am here, it is impossible to not improve as a player. It helps being a young group where everyone is looking to improve to get ahead of the next guy. There is a friendly rivalry. “Ultimately, this is a world stage. You impress here, you impress your national team – both as a local Indian guy and also as an overseas guy.”